Fasting may help pass longevity advantage to future generations, study finds

The secret to a longer life lies not just in what we eat, but maybe in when we don’t. When young worms went six days without food, they lived about 19% longer as adults.

A fascinating study suggests that fasting might extend lifespan not only for individuals but also for their descendants, even generations later. The study, conducted by researchers from Baylor College of Medicine, was published in the journal Science in September.

Active LIPL-4 Gene Boosts Longevity

The research team used a small organism called Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), a nematode often used in aging studies because of its simple body and short lifespan, which makes genetic changes easy to observe. C. elegans has long helped scientists uncover how genes work in processes such as aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

The researchers discovered that when a specific gene called LIPL-4 was more active, the worms lived about 53% longer. Even more surprising, their offspring—up to the fourth generation—also lived longer, despite not carrying the same active gene. Somehow, the "longevity advantage" had been passed down through a biological memory system.

Genes Don't Change, but Destiny Does

This inheritance of longevity wasn't caused by changes in the DNA itself. Instead, it involved epigenetic changes—chemical markers that act like notes on top of our genetic code, telling genes when to turn on or off. In other words, while the genetic hardware stayed the same, the software running it had been reprogrammed.

The researchers found that fasting can trigger a chain of signals that starts in the gut and reaches the reproductive cells. These signals leave behind tiny molecular "tags" that tell certain genes to stay active longer. Remarkably, those tags can be passed on to the next generation, giving them a built-in boost in longevity—even if they never experienced fasting themselves.

Hunger and Lifestyle

The same effect appeared naturally through fasting.  The "longevity bonus" disappeared when key proteins involved in this signaling process were missing, confirming the link between metabolism and inherited lifespan.

This study adds to growing evidence that environmental factors such as diet, exercise, and even temperature can leave molecular "footprints" that shape future generations. It suggests that evolution may have equipped living beings with a way to prepare their offspring for tough times—turning temporary hardship, like hunger, into lasting resilience.

Technology Enabling Deeper Understanding

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Combining high-throughput sequencing technology with advanced bioinformatics and genetic testing, BGI Genomics enables comprehensive insights into how molecular pathways interact and influence health outcomes. The integration of approaches, such as whole genome sequencing (WGS), protein interaction, and RNA sequencing, helps research institutions and organizations accelerate discoveries that shape the future of preventive and precision medicine.

The Baylor team's findings illuminate a new dimension of aging. Our cells carry not only the memories of our genes but also of our experiences. Through mechanisms like histone methylation, fasting may serve as a natural way to fine-tune the body’s metabolism, promoting longevity across generations. In short, your next skipped meal might be doing more than resetting your metabolism—it could be leaving a lasting imprint on your family tree.

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